Saturday

Austin police are searching for a man who they believe dumped a woman's body Friday evening near East Seventh Street in East Austin, a police official said.

Police received a call about 6 p.m. from a person who found the woman's body near the intersection of Gonzales and Tillery streets, police said.

Police would not release details about how the woman was killed or exactly where her body was found. They did not have a detailed description of the suspect.

I-35 underpass called complete

A $2.1 million makeover of what had been Interstate 35's dingy underbelly was declared officially complete Friday by a phalanx of politicians and other officials gathered at the downtown location.

The project between East Sixth and East Eighth streets included installation of 14 upward-curving metal arches with LED fixtures, a metallic ribcage that is visible to cars passing above on the interstate and now brings light to parking lots that had been dark at night.

The two lots, north and south of East Sixth, were reworked with curbs, medians, and new trees and other landscaping. The changes reduced the number of spaces on what is a paid parking lot at night from 310 spaces to 229, the city said earlier this year. The lots and the lighting fixtures had been complete for several months, but the official opening was put off until the landscaping work was complete.

The city used accumulated revenue from the parking lots, a loan (to be paid back from future parking revenue) and a federal grant for the project.

Jet hits bird, returns to airport

An American Airlines plane that took off shortly after 12:30 p.m. Friday from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport had to turn back to the airport after hitting a bird, an airport spokesman said.

The flight, identified by the Federal Aviation Administration as No. 813 to Los Angeles, had been about five miles south of the airport when the emergency call from the pilot came in, city aviation spokesman Jason Zielinski said. The plane landed on the airport's east runway about three minutes later without incident, Zielinski said.

KVUE.com reported there were 138 passengers. No one was injured, Zielinski said.

The plane — an MD-83 jet, according to the FAA — returned to Gate 14, and passengers were allowed to leave the plane and make other travel arrangements. The jet had damage to its left-side engine, the FAA said.

Private planes at Austin-Bergstrom have had problems with bird strikes at the airport, which sits just north of two landfills that have a tendency to draw turkey buzzards. But Zielinski said it is unusual for an airliner to sustain a strike that necessitates returning to the airport.

KILLEEN

Woman found dead in house fire

An 81-year-old woman was found dead early Friday following a house fire.

Killeen firefighters responded to the fire in the 3200 block of Lake Travis Avenue at 3:36 a.m. and found flames coming from the attic area, officials said. When they entered the home, firefighters found the woman unresponsive inside. They began CPR and took her to Metroplex Hospital, but she was pronounced dead at 4:17 a.m., officials said. An autopsy is pending.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, officials said, and the woman's name had not been released pending notification of her relatives.

ROUND ROCK

Stage 2 water restrictions start

The City of Round Rock will start Stage 2 water restrictions Tuesday because of dropping water levels and the heat.

Homeowners with addresses that end in odd numbers should water on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Those with even-numbered addresses should water on Thursdays and Sundays. Commercial and multifamily customers should water on Tuesdays and Fridays. Automatic watering systems may not be used between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on watering days. Charity car washes are prohibited. A hand-held hose is allowed at any time.

DRIPPING SPRINGS

Fire contained within 2 hours

A 20- to 30-acre grass fire that forced the evacuation of several homes Friday was contained in about two hours, officials said.

The North Hays Fire Department and other agencies responded to the slow-moving fire off Butler Ranch Road, which was first reported about 3:25 p.m., a fire official said. Residents on Sports Park Drive, in Terry's Mobile Home Park and other residences were evacuated but were allowed back in within two hours. No damage or injuries were reported.

North Hays Fire also responded to a small fire near RM 12. It was contained soon after.

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